CN-122006006-A - Pressure actuated unidirectional flow control apparatus for gravity IV device

Abstract

A flow control device includes a housing having a primary inlet, a secondary inlet, and an outlet disposed downstream of the primary inlet and the secondary inlet. The flow control device further includes a chamber defined by the inner circumferential surface of the housing. The chamber fluidly connects the primary inlet and the secondary inlet with the outlet. A valve member is mounted in the chamber, the valve member being pivoted towards and blocking the primary inlet by fluid pressure in the secondary inlet when fluid pressure entering the secondary inlet is higher than fluid pressure entering the primary inlet.

Inventors

• Amarsin Ghadaf
• Rakesh Tulasiram
• Sujas Hanumantarao
• ROY RAJU
• Sri ram Shiva Rajaraman
• Sabari Nansen Lagindran

Assignees

• 康尔福盛303公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20210917

Priority Date

20200918

Claims (20)

1. 1. A gravity flow control device comprising: a housing including a primary inlet and a secondary inlet disposed on an upper surface of the housing, respectively, and an outlet disposed on a lower surface of the housing downstream of the primary inlet and the secondary inlet by gravity; A chamber disposed within the housing and fluidly connecting the primary and secondary inlets with the outlet, and A valve member pivotally mounted on an upper surface of the chamber, the valve member being configured to pivot in response to a higher fluid pressure from gravity fluid flow through one of the primary and secondary inlets.
2. 2. The gravity flow control device of claim 1, wherein the valve member is configured to pivot toward the primary inlet and block the primary inlet when fluid pressure entering the secondary inlet is higher than fluid pressure entering the primary inlet, and to pivot toward the secondary inlet and block the secondary inlet when fluid pressure entering the primary inlet is higher than fluid pressure entering the secondary inlet.
3. 3. The gravity flow control device of claim 1, wherein the valve member further comprises: A lever; a main pipe sealing member provided on the lever at a position corresponding to the main inlet, and An auxiliary line sealing member provided on the lever at a position corresponding to the auxiliary inlet.
4. 4. A gravity flow control device according to claim 3 wherein in the non-actuated state of the valve member: the main line sealing member contacting an upper surface of the chamber, and The auxiliary line seal member is axially spaced from an upper surface of the chamber.
5. 5. A gravity flow control device as in claim 3 wherein said lever includes a first end and a second end positioned axially offset from one another.
6. 6. The gravity flow control device of claim 5, wherein the lever includes a step having a height corresponding to an axial offset of the first and second ends.
7. 7. The gravity flow control device of claim 6, wherein the lever includes a main portion extending from the first end to the step and a secondary portion extending from the step to the second end.
8. 8. The gravity flow control device of claim 7, wherein the lever includes a fulcrum disposed on an upper surface of a main portion of the lever.
9. 9. The gravity flow control device of claim 8, wherein the fulcrum is positioned between and separate from the first end and the step.
10. 10. The gravity flow control device of claim 8, wherein a distance between the primary line sealing member and the fulcrum is less than a distance between the secondary line sealing member and the fulcrum.
11. 11. The gravity flow control device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a circular housing having an inner circumferential surface defining the chamber as a circular chamber.
12. 12. The gravity flow control device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a cylindrical housing including a circular outer wall between a flat upper surface and a flat lower surface.
13. 13. The gravity flow control device of claim 1, wherein the housing is an octagonal housing having an upper surface comprising a flat top portion between two angled portions, wherein the primary inlet and secondary inlet are disposed on the two angled portions, respectively.
14. 14. The gravity flow control device of claim 1, further comprising a vent disposed on an upper surface of the housing and fluidly connected to the chamber.
15. 15. The gravity flow control device of claim 1, wherein the vent includes a hydrophilic membrane that prevents fluid from passing through the vent.
16. 16. An intravenous injection device, comprising: A primary fluid reservoir; an auxiliary fluid container; A primary intravenous fluid line; auxiliary intravenous fluid line, and The gravity flow control device of claim 1.
17. 17. The iv set of claim 16, wherein the primary iv fluid line is connected to the primary fluid container and the secondary iv fluid line is connected to the secondary fluid container, the primary fluid container being disposed at a lower elevation than the secondary fluid container.
18. 18. The intravenous device of claim 17, wherein the valve member is configured to pivot and block the primary inlet based on a greater hydrostatic pressure on the valve member of a secondary fluid in a secondary fluid line than a primary fluid in a primary fluid line due to a difference in height between the primary and secondary fluid containers.
19. 19. The intravenous device of claim 18, wherein the valve member is configured to pivot and unblock the primary inlet based on a lower hydrostatic pressure on the valve member from secondary fluid in the secondary fluid line than primary fluid in the primary fluid line due to depletion of secondary fluid in the secondary fluid container.
20. 20. The iv set of claim 16, wherein the primary fluid container comprises a primary iv fluid bag containing a primary medical fluid and the secondary fluid container comprises a secondary iv fluid bag containing a secondary medical fluid different from the primary medical fluid.

Description

Pressure actuated unidirectional flow control apparatus for gravity IV device The present application is a divisional application of application number 202111095211.4, titled "pressure actuated unidirectional flow control device for gravity IV device", with application number 2021, 9, 17. Technical Field The present invention relates generally to flow control devices and, more particularly, to a flow control device having a valve member capable of preventing under-infusion in an IV (intravenous) set with an auxiliary line and preventing back flow of medication from the auxiliary line into the main line. Background Infusion IV sets are commonly used in infusion therapies to deliver medication to a patient from a pre-filled container (e.g., an IV bottle or bag containing the desired medication). Typically, an IV tubing is connected to a catheter and inserted into the local area to be treated. In some cases, it is desirable to deliver multiple medications to a patient in potentially different doses, resulting in the need for an IV extension set having multiple branches of tubing or fluid lines through which multiple medications may be dispensed to the patient. Patients are typically injected with an IV solution that is initially provided in an IV bottle or bag and is instilled into the patient's vein through an IV line. A flow control device (e.g., a check valve) is also typically included in the IV line to permit fluid flow only in the direction of the patient. This ensures that the medication flows downstream to the patient, rather than upstream to the IV bottle or bag. During infusion with an IV set, the supply of secondary medication may potentially flow back into the primary IV line, resulting in under-infusion of the secondary medication. Although check valves may be positioned in the main line to prevent backflow, check valves are prone to frequent failure. A common cause of check valve failure is due to the presence of debris in the infusion fluid. In addition, since air enters the auxiliary line, causing some auxiliary agent to remain in the auxiliary line (undelivered medication), an underinfusion often occurs. Air entering the IV line may have adverse effects, such as air embolism to the patient. The description provided in the background section should not be taken as prior art merely because it is referred to in or associated with the background section. The background section may include information describing one or more aspects of the subject technology. Disclosure of Invention According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, a flow control device may include a housing having a primary inlet, a secondary inlet, and an outlet disposed downstream of the primary inlet and the secondary inlet. The chamber may be defined by an inner circumferential surface of the housing. The chamber may fluidly connect the primary inlet and the secondary inlet with the outlet. The flow control device may further comprise a valve member mounted in the chamber to pivot towards and block the primary inlet by fluid pressure in the secondary inlet when fluid pressure entering the secondary inlet is higher than fluid pressure entering the primary inlet. According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, a flow control device may include a housing having an inner circumferential surface defining a chamber. The housing may include a primary inlet configured to receive the primary fluid conduit, a secondary inlet configured to receive the secondary fluid conduit, and an outlet disposed downstream of the primary inlet and the secondary inlet. The flow control device may further include a valve member mounted on the inner circumferential surface. The valve member may include a lever having a first end and a second end, a fulcrum on which the lever is supported and pivoted, a primary line sealing member disposed at a position of the first end corresponding to the primary inlet, and a secondary line sealing member disposed at a position of the second end corresponding to the secondary inlet. It is to be understood that other configurations of the subject technology, wherein the various configurations of the subject technology are shown and described by way of illustration, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. As will be realized, the subject technology is capable of other and different configurations and its several details are capable of modification in various other respects, all without departing from the scope of the subject technology. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. Drawings The following drawings are included to illustrate certain aspects of the embodiments and should not be taken as exclusive embodiments. The disclosed subject matter is capable of considerable modification, alteration, combination, and equivalents in form and function, as will occur to t